"You can't answer a single one of these questions," I said, "because for the last year you have had zero contact with her. None."

The woman narrowed her eyes at me and slammed her hand down on the table, making me jump. "You. Are. Not. Her. Mother."

Cale went to stand, but I put my hand on his shoulder. I shook my head. "I'm more of a mother to her than you would ever be. Even if Zoey were alive, you and I both know she'd never have stayed. She'd have left Cale and gone back to her single, carefree life."

Mrs. Jones stood up. "You don't know that."

"She didn't even think Lily would live. She never even bothered to set up the nursery. She didn't buy a single thing for Lily. Not even a crib. You know, you weren't even around when your daughter was pregnant. You abandoned her, just like you abandoned Lily the day she was born."

Mrs. Jones squared her shoulders and held her head higher. "Well, I'm ready to be here for my granddaughter now. You are not her mother. You will never be her mother."

I locked eyes with her. I was not backing down from this fight. Lily was my daughter, and I would stop at nothing to keep this woman away from her.

I laughed gruffly, looking down at Mr. Jones. I had the feeling he wanted nothing to do with this fight. Why Zoey's mother had decided to pull this shit now was beyond me.

"I'm going to find out why the hell you are suddenly so interested in our daughter. And, as far as me not being Lily's mother, and you getting visitation rights? You can go fuck yourself."

I pushed my chair back and walked out of the room. My hands were shaking and I felt sick to my stomach. I covered my mouth and made a beeline for the restroom.

After I threw up everything in my stomach, I sat down, finally letting my tears fall.

"I'll never let her have my daughter. Never." I whispered.

I PACED BACK and forth outside the bathroom door. I was about ready to go in when Maddie came out. I quickly pulled her into my arms. When she broke down in tears, I wanted to go back and pound the shit out of Zoey's mother. I had never hated anyone in my entire life, but I hated that woman with everything I had.

"Shh, baby, don't worry. They have no legal rights to her."

"Surely no judge in their right mind would grant her anything. Right?" she said.

I held her tight. "No, with zero contact, there is no way. Dad seems to think there is something else fueling Zoey's mother. Whatever it is, we are going to find out and put a stop to it so she never bothers us again. The lawyers are also drawing up the papers to have you legally adopt Lily."

Maddie wiped her eyes and looked up at me. Her beautiful, green eyes were so bloodshot from crying, and mascara streaked down her face. It broke my heart. "Come on," I said. "Let's go home and see our daughter."

She slipped her arm around my waist as we walked out of the courthouse. I glanced over and nodded at my father's lead council. He smiled and gave me a thumbs-up. I'd given him the phone number to Jack's private investigator. I knew that guy would get to the bottom of this. There had to be a reason Zoey's parents were showing up out of blue.

We'd driven in silence for twenty minutes when I finally asked Maddie a question. "Did you find your dress?"

For the first time since she'd flown in yesterday, she smiled. "I did," she said, wiggling her eyebrows. "And I'm pretty sure you are going to faint when you see it."

I raised an eyebrow. "Really? Will I want you out of it?"

She nodded and giggled. "I even know what I'm wearing underneath it."

I felt my pants getting tighter and I adjusted my growing dick. "Damn it, Maddie. You're going to make me pull over and take you in the car."

She laughed. "I like that you get so horny for me," she said. "Just so you know, I don't plan on wearing any panties when we get married. I want you to think about me wet for you during the entire ceremony and reception."

I hit the brakes and quickly pulled down a side dirt road.

"Where are we going, Cale?" Maddie asked, laughing.

I had no clue where the hell I was going. I drove a bit further until I saw another small road. Turning, I drove about a mile. I parked, jumped out and walked to Maddie's side where I opened her door and pulled her out.

"Cale, we are on someone's property, what are you doing?"

I unzipped my pants and pulled them down as I reached up her dress. I yanked her lace panties and they fell apart in my hand. I loved that she wore such delicate panties.

She smiled and placed her hands on my shoulders. I knew that Maddie loved it when we made love-slow and sweet. But I also knew she loved when we did things like this-spontaneous, raw, passionate sex.

Picking her up, I placed my dick at her entrance. She dropped her head back and moaned as I entered her. I pushed her against the car, taking us to heaven and back.

MADDIE WALKED THROUGH the door and into the kitchen. Monica looked up and smiled. "How did it go?"

"She's such a bitch." Maddie said, whispering the word "bitch." Continuing, she said, "I hate her. She's never going to get within a foot of Lily."

Maddie picked up Lily, who smiled and said, "Mama, bird!"

Maddie walked to the sliding glass door and out onto the deck. She was smiling as she talked to Lily and pointed up to the birds. She sang to her as she danced with Lily.

I let out a long sigh and turned to Monica. "Jesus, I hate to see Maddie so upset. But, I have to tell you, I almost yelled out, 'Hell, yeah' when Maddie told Zoey's mother to fuck off."

Monica covered her mouth as she started to laugh. Jack came over and slapped me on the back. "I always did like that girl".

I threw my head back and laughed.

"How about some dinner?" Monica asked as she stopped and put her hand on her stomach. "Oh God...Oh God..."

Jack and I both looked at her and said, "What?"

Jack rushed to her and said, "What's wrong, Monica? What's the matter?"

She looked down-something was moving across her stomach.

"Holy shit," I said as I walked over and placed my hand on her stomach. I looked at Jack as Monica grinned from ear to ear.

"What was that?" Jack asked.

Monica laughed. "I don't know. Maybe a tiny foot or something? Oh, shit. One of them is kicking big time." She grabbed both our hands and placed them under her stomach. Sure enough, someone was going to town in there.

"God, this is the most amazing thing ever," I said.

Jack nodded. "These are the greatest moments of my life. Nothing like feeling your child moving inside your wife's body."

I looked to my right and saw Maddie standing there, holding Lily. She was staring at us, as we had our hands on Monica's belly. She had a wounded expression on her face.

"The um...the babies were really kicking," I said, facing her.

She smiled slightly as she nodded and set Lily down.

"Look," she whispered as she let go of Lily's hands.

Lily wobbled for a few seconds before she started walking toward me. I dropped to the ground and held out my hands as she walked right into my arms. I held her as Maddie clapped and praised Lily. I glanced back up and saw tears in Maddie's eyes. Monica and Jack started clapping as Lily clapped and, yelled out, "Bird!"

I WALKED OUT of the bathroom to find Maddie already asleep in bed. I'd wanted to talk to her all evening. I wasn't sure if she'd been happy about Lily walking, or upset about Monica and the babies. I couldn't read her, but I knew something was off. Monica had told me that Maddie was starting to worry because she hadn't gotten pregnant yet. As much as I reassured her, she still seemed to be falling deeper into a depression.

I crawled under the covers and pulled her body into mine. She mumbled something as I kissed her shoulder. "I love you, Maddie," I said. "I'll love you and Lily for as long as I live."

When she rolled over, her green eyes looked so sad. "What if I never get pregnant?" she asked.

"Maddie, you have to stop stressing. Please. It will happen when it's meant to. Let's get through Lily's birthday and the wedding. Then we'll have our honeymoon. A week alone. We'll do nothing but relax and try to make a baby."

She gave me a weak smile. "What if-"

I placed my finger to her lips. "Shh. Stop thinking that way. Now, I need you to do me a favor."

She nodded. "Anything."

"Let me make love to you."

She sat up and pulled her T-shirt over her head as she crawled on top of me and rocked against my dick. I rolled her over and placed her hands over her head as I pushed myself into her and began to slowly make love to her. We didn't need to say anything. Just gentle kisses and one whispered I love you as we both came together. My body was overcome with so much love. Soon I would be marrying the woman of my dreams.

LILY'S BIRTHDAY HAD finally arrived. I laughed as I watched my father and Mitchel, Cale's father argue over whose turn it was to take Lily back into the bouncy house. I called to them both, "She's going to get sick if you guys keep bouncing her around like that!"

My father turned and waved, like I didn't know what I was talking about. I laughed and turned my attention to Cale. Biting my lip, I placed my hand on my stomach. I couldn't wait to be alone with him. I'd wanted to talk to him as soon as I got home from my doctor's appointment this morning, but everyone was around.

I closed my eyes and thought back to when I received the best news of my life.

MY DOCTOR HAD just walked into the room and given me a sweet smile. Internally, I'd rolled my eyes, thinking she was about to tell me I had the flu. I didn't have time to have the flu. I had a birthday party today and a wedding next week.

"I knew it, I have the flu. Shit. Can you give me something to make me feel better? Oh, God. What if Lily gets sick before the wedding? We won't be able to go on the honeymoon."

Doctor Jacobs laughed, as she sat down and shook her head. "I don't think you have to worry about any of that, Maddie. You don't have the flu."

I looked at her, confused. "What's wrong then? Can you give me something to make me feel better?"

She inhaled quickly and let the breath out just as fast. "I'm afraid not."

The nurse had walked in and smiled, setting down a plastic bin that had a needle and two vials in it. "What are you doing?" I asked.

"Taking your blood," she replied.

I turned my head quickly and looked at Doctor Jacobs. "Oh, God. Do you think something is wrong with me? Why is she taking blood?"

Doctor Jacobs stood up and walked over to me and placed her hand on my arm. "Calm down, Maddie. Everything is fine. I'm having her drawn blood to double-check the results from your urine sample."

My heart dropped. "What kind of results?"

She smiled bigger and tilted her head as she looked at me like I had just said the sweetest thing ever. "A positive pregnancy result."

I let out a breath. "Oh...that's it." I closed my eyes and then snapped them open again. "Wait, what?"

"Congratulations, Maddie. You're pregnant."

I JUMPED WHEN I felt someone touch the side of my face. I looked up and was greeted by the most beautiful green eyes.

"Jack and I are headed out on the boat with a few others. We're gonna get in some knee-boarding and skiing. You wanna come?"

I looked back at my father and Cale's father. They were taking turns bouncing with Lily. I smiled and shook my head. "Nah, y'all have fun. But don't stay out there too long. We're going to be singing 'Happy Birthday' to Lily soon, and cutting the cake. She's going to be really tired, and I don't want her staying up too late especially since she's missing a nap today."

Cale leaned down and kissed me on the lips. I loved how gentle his kisses were. At the same time, they were so powerful.

"Okay," he said. "We'll just do a few rounds. I love you, Maddie. You look so beautiful and happy today, baby."

I placed my hand on his cheek. "I love you, too. When we get a moment to be alone, I have something important to tell you."

He stood up, concerned. "Do you want to talk now?"

I chuckled. "No, it can wait until after everyone leaves and we're alone."

He tilted his head and asked, "Are you sure?"

I stood and placed my hand on his chest. "I'm positive. Go have fun, but be careful."

He took my face gently and gave me a quick kiss. "Always, baby. Always."

He turned and jogged down to the dock. The way our house sat on the lake, we had a flat area just above the dock where we were having the party. The bouncy house was set up next to the new swing set that Jack and Cale had put up last week. We had a walkway that led from the deck down to the yard area, and another crushed granite walkway that led to the dock. I looked across the lake to what use to be my house. What are the odds of Cale and me buying houses so close to each other? I turned to my best friend. Monica was now seven months pregnant-and huge. Poor thing. I couldn't imagine being pregnant with twins. Monica and Jack had ended up buying my house, and they had just finished building an addition. They added a guest bedroom with a private bathroom and one other bedroom. With Jack and Monica both able to work from home, they wanted to have two designated offices for each of them.

"You're the one who made her throw up, James."

I turned to see Mitchel and my father approaching me with Lily. She had something all over her shirt. "What happened?" I asked.

"She spit up a little." My father said with an innocent smile.

I looked at Lily's shirt. It was covered in what looked like the carrots and noodles she'd had for lunch.

"Gross, Dad," I said. "Here, let me have her. I'll go change the princess and get her dressed in something new." I was making my way up to the house when I called over my shoulder. "We're going to be singing 'Happy Birthday' and cutting the cake soon!"

"Do you need help, sweetheart?" My father called out.

I held up my hand and waved it. "I got this, Dad."

I stopped in the living room for a few minutes to talk to Mary and Michelle. Michelle was Daddy's girlfriend, and I adored her. She'd had no clue for the first two months they dated that my father owned one of the biggest communications company in the U.S. She liked my father for who he was. They'd just gotten back from a weeklong camping trip. I smiled as I looked at her. Her hair was pulled up into a ponytail and she had on capris and a T-shirt that said, "I stop at all fishing holes."

As I changed Lily, I started talking to her. "Mommy has a big surprise for Daddy."

Lily smiled. "Dada."

I laughed. "Yep, Daddy is going to be over the moon. If I tell you something, can you keep it a secret?" I whispered as I kissed her nose. She giggled and kicked like crazy. "Mommy is going to be giving you a baby brother or sister."